Dear Reader,
Happy October! I do love this month, and have since childhood. For me, it is a month of mystery and change, of transition, creativity and a final flurry of activity before settling in for the winter.
When I was growing up, I loved school and in October, classes were still new with lots of learning ahead. Fall sports were in full swing and I, as a runner, was out there every day after school, running through the woods and fields – rain or shine, warm or cold.
At the end of the month, of course, came Halloween, my favorite holiday. Us kids got to dress up as something outrageous, scary, or funny – we got a chance to appear as something we were not, at least not on the surface! For me, it was never about the candy. Sure, I would collect it happily in my little paper Halloween bag with the handles, but then it would sit in my room for weeks, until my mom begged me to eat it before she did.
No, Halloween was about the thrill of the unknown and unexpected. Who would open the door when I knocked, and what would their reaction be when I shouted “Trick or Treat!” What would they put in my bag? Even better – what other kinds of creatures would I see flitting through the night, alone or in groups? I loved seeing ghosts, vampires and witches pouring out of cars, skittering along the sidewalks of my small hometown.
If that was all, my love of October would be pretty traditional. But there’s more.
I loved the way the light changed, and the sun set earlier. All people and things were illuminated not as solid and predicable, but as transient, ever-changing, with a newly revealed potential to surprise at any second. I loved the chill that settled in the air, along with the surprise of a morning frost, calling on us to start dressing in layers. I loved the way pumpkins, forgotten the rest of the year, suddenly appeared everywhere and eventually turned to jack-o-lanterns in windows and on doorsteps.
I loved most the wild skies of late October, shortly after sunset. The leaves had already burst in brilliance and dropped, been raked into piles and jumped in. The air was cold, and the winds brisk. The sky showed a last gleam of orange at the horizon, with deepening bands of blue leading to darkness overhead. Bare twisted branches were silhouetted, creating a sense of mystery and transformation.
Years later, not much has changed. I still love October. It feeds my spirit. I still love that sense of mystery, the unknown, and the potential for anything to happen. After years of living in New York City and watching little devils in red suits wander along Broadway (I always thought it must be tough to Trick or Treat in the Big Apple!) and getting married in October (both times!) I am living far from my childhood New England.
I am in Shetland, far north of the coast of Scotland, and I am delighted to discover that some of the familiar signs of Autumn are here, too. The winds have picked up, darkness arrives earlier, the sun’s rays are warm one moment and chilling the next. Although there are few trees here, the leaves still turn, and they still fall. Change and transition and the approaching winter are foremost in people’s minds.
Can you relate, dear reader? I don’t know where you are in the world, but do you have some of the signs of change, of wildness, of mystery to embrace? I, for one, intend to let this October be a month of mystery, allowing and enjoying whatever it may bring, and whatever creativity it stirs in me.
I invite you to join me.
I honor your loving heart,
John
Hi John,
Thank you for the wonderful memories having spent some of my growing up years in New England. Now, as an adult (living in upstate NY), I would like to share a few additional activities, events, observations that have come to mark this time of year in my life.
For me, a harbinger of winter during this mid autumn time is the geese flying north (or maybe just to the nearest cornfield) often noticed while stacking wood or raking leaves. I notice how the light changes as they cast their heavy collective shadow. I love looking at how the formation changes as stragglers and other smaller groups of geese join in. So purposeful, and of course, the sound!
And then there is the a fore mentioned stacking of wood. I am often asked why I don’t get some neighborhood kids or students to help. I would rather take my time and do it myself. Why? It is all part of the ritual, the getting ready for winter, the meditative practice of it, as body works and mind is awake but calm. And when the wood is burned, the day is remembered.
Putting the gardens to bed is another autumn “ritual”. Saying goodbye to summer and thanking the earth for its many blessings. I take my time during this rite of passage, it is an honor. It is also like cleaning up for a party that only occurs once a year. I am already looking forward to next year but am secretly glad for the rest – no more canning for now. Mid-October is when I plant the elephant garlic. First the cloves, then the straw, then the board (to prevent frost heaves).
And finally there is Indian Summer. Will it come and when?
Hi Stephanie – Thank you for your lovely comment and October observations! It is amazing how the simple seasonal rituals and engagement with nature become such a deep part of who we are. Later, these experiences can trigger images and memories at a moment’s notice, either unexpectedly or when we choose to invoke them – perhaps when we need a little strength, or a little grounding, or a little inspiration. Good luck with that elephant garlic!
John
kia ora!
Greetings from New Zealand. John, you taught me to appreciate the last moments of sunlight during the autumn in New York. I was walking with my beloved this morning as we tried to grasp the sunlight in hope of a Kiwi Spring, talking about Halloween. That’s when I had to stop. After all these years, you’d think that I would have adjusted to living in the land of the long white cloud…… however, there are times when its too much! Halloween needs to be celebrated in autumn, with leaves and dampness, being chased away by the the last few moments of sun……so I had to check out today’s website and leave a note…..
Happy Autumn and thanks or reminding me of a very special magic autumn brings in the Northern Hemisphere!
Hey John
As always, beautiful, thoughtful words.
I also love October. Around 3:30 this afternoon noticed that the shadows were longer and starting to look more like evening light that the afternoon light of just a month ago. The breeze was colder than it had been in the stronger sun just an hour before. In downtown Manhattan, the bird circling pattern over the bridges at sunset is changing. I can look down through the trees and see patches of sidewalk that had disappeared from my view during the burgeoning days of spring. And although I fight fiercely giving up wearing of sandals, even in the city, nature is moving on.
BTW, trick or treating is fabulous in the city. Lots of kids and because of close proximity, the ability to hit a lot of people which meant lots of candy (we ate ours, oh dear).
Hi Diane – Thanks, and thanks for reminding me that in your part of the world, it is a different season altogether! So helpful for maintaining a global awareness… Your comment conjures up a million questions, but I’ll limit myself to two; what is Kiwi Spring like, and has it arrived yet??
Hi June – Thank you for the beautiful words back! Not everyone focuses on the subtlety of Nature in New York City, and I love how popular the city is for so many different kinds of birds.
Glad to hear it; I also always liked the fact that a lot of the pharmacies, delis and other shops welcome in those urban Trick or Treaters!